As of January 27, 2026, Southwest Airlines no longer has an open seating policy. Here's how Southwest now boards its aircraft and why it chose to go this route.

For years, flying Southwest meant knowing exactly what you were getting. No seat assignments, no first class curtain, and no hierarchy beyond boarding groups. It was democratic, predictable, and ...

Around a dozen or so airlines continue to offer first-class seating, with Emirates contributing up to half of the suites.